The CNBS successfully wraps up the first Financial Journalism Course

The National Commission of Banks and Insurance (CNBS) wrapped up on July 25, 2026, the first Financial Journalism Course: ‘Moving Towards Financial Education and Inclusion for Everyone.’ Over 8 weeks, this academic initiative strengthened the skills of 34 Honduran journalists in areas related to supervision, regulation, and the functioning of the national financial system.

The course highlighted the importance of communicating financial information responsibly, through analysis, research, and consulting reliable sources, with the goal of promoting content that helps people make better financial decisions. It also encouraged a better understanding of the role media plays in financial education and building trust in the financial system.

The academic program consisted of 32 class hours, spread across eight specialized modules, covering topics related to banking regulation, the stock market, insurance and pensions, as well as operational resilience, financial innovation, green finance, cybersecurity, anti-money laundering, and counter-terrorism financing. It also included content on financial education and inclusion, consumer financial protection, and financial data interpretation.

The closing ceremony was attended by the President Commissioner of the CNBS, Lawyer Nicolás J. García Pineda, along with the Commissioners Licenciada Julieta Suazo Franco and Lawyer Gustavo Solórzano Díaz. Also present were Licenciada Josibeth Castro, representative of the Honduran Association of Banking Institutions (AHIBA), and Licenciada Lesly Araujo, from the Honduran Chamber of Insurers (CAHDA).

As part of the event, the communicators presented and defended their final project, which consisted of a journalistic piece that brought together the knowledge they had gained throughout the course. The evaluation was carried out by Licentiate Jorge Jacobo Kawas Mejía, Academic Head of Finance and Business at the Central American Technological University (UNITEC); Licentiate Vanessa Baldassarre, Professor of Economic Journalism at the Metropolitan University of Honduras (UMH); and on behalf of the CNBS, Licentiates José Rolando Vega and Luis Duarte, as well as Licentiates Evelyn Flores, Margie Castro, and Evelyn Burgos.

During the ceremony, the President Commissioner of the CNBS, Lawyer Nicolás J. García Pineda, highlighted that “the training of specialized journalists represents an investment in favor of transparency, financial education, and institutional strengthening,” while reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to continue promoting training opportunities for communication professionals. He also noted that “economic journalism plays a fundamental role in bringing technical and reliable information to the public, contributing to a better understanding of the financial system and to making more informed decisions.”

Also, in recognition of the effort, dedication, and performance demonstrated during the program, the three projects that were the highest rated by the jury were awarded, with their authors receiving monetary prizes granted by AHIBA and CAHDA:

• First place: Licentiate Edwin Gómez, from El Diario de Honduras
• Second place: Licentiate Daniela Mejía, from HCH
• Third place: Licentiate Juan Carlos Álvarez, from Canal 10 and Abriendo Brecha

During the ceremony, CAHDA also gave out two special awards in recognition of the consistency and participation of the communicators:

• Most Punctual Participant: Bruce Villatoro, from the Digital Newspaper Quien Opina.
• Most Participative Participant: Nelson Lanza, from Radio Cadena Voces.

With this initiative, the National Commission of Banks and Insurance marks a significant step forward in promoting financial inclusion, by strengthening the capabilities of a key sector to drive policies and actions that allow the population, especially the most vulnerable groups, to access quality information and financial tools that help improve their living conditions.

CNBS experts who taught the modules

The modules were taught by specialists from different technical areas of the CNBS, who shared their knowledge and experience to strengthen the participants’ understanding of the functioning, supervision, and regulation of the Honduran financial system. Among the facilitators were José Rolando Vega, Hody Canales, and Evelyn Johana Flores from the Management of Studies, Regulation, Competition, and Financial Innovation; Jenssy Carolina Paz Macías and Elsa Gabriela Álvarez from the Legal Management; Luis Duarte, Claudio Zelaya, Alejandra Sánchez, Isidro Rodríguez, and Germán Padilla from the Superintendency of Banks and Other Financial Institutions; Digna Gabriela Oyuela, José Benjamín Santos, Ana Lucía Milla, and Jorge Alfredo González from the Superintendency of Pensions and Securities; Emily Corea and Evelyn Burgos from the Superintendency of Insurance; Carlos Fúnez, Ilish Lenin Garay, Elia Brigith Zaldívar, and Margie Castro, from the Risk Management Department; Oscar Cárcamo, from the Financial Intelligence Unit; Brenda Rodríguez and Omar Ramírez, from the Financial Consumer Protection Department; Andrea Osorio and Alba Mejía, from the Department of Financial Education, Inclusion, and Gender; and Wilfredo Oseguera, from the Office of Institutional Image, Communication, and Protocol.